Style By Significant Other: Ian Wilson and Chantal Strasburger

Here's What Happened When An Engineer Let His GF Dress Him All Week

Welcome to Style By Significant Other, where we’re giving partners the power to completely choose their significant other's clothes for one week — and the results will always be interesting. From guys who don’t know the first thing about fashion to pairs with totally different styles, expect the unexpected with these couples. And, get a little inspiration in the process.

Chantal Strasburger, a freelance writer and the founder of Read Receipts, had a crush on Ian Wilson, an engineer at a tech company, from the second they first met through a friend four years ago. Chantal jokes “it only took me about three years to get him to notice me!”, but now the two have been together nearly a year and they’re living quite the long-distance adventure. With Strasburger’s recent move to London and Wilson currently living in Brooklyn, they met up in Austin, TX, where his go-to white v-neck tees got an eye-catching upgrade. Here’s what happened when the art-loving writer dressed her engineer boyfriend for five days.

Ian's Initial Thoughts

How would you describe your style? Some strange intersection of streetwear, athleisure, and trad. Today is a perfect example: I’m wearing a coat from Nigel Cabourn, a Shaggy Dog from J. Press, a button down from Ascot Chang, Lululemon joggers, and a classic pair of Timbs.

Is there anything you want to change about your style? I’ve been blessed to work for extremely casual employers — hence why I can get away with wearing joggers to work — so I’ve never really figured out how to stand wearing a suit on a regular basis. I also don’t own a pair of raw denim at the moment — that feels like it needs to change.

What’s one item of clothing you wear that drives your significant other crazy? I like wearing white v-neck t-shirts. Sometimes as an undershirt, but also sometimes as just what I’m wearing. Chantal can’t stand them.

What do you wear too much? My Unis Gio pants. I have them tailored at Stanton Street Tailor in New York City, and then I get excited and wear them into the ground.

What should you wear more often? Wool or tweed jackets. I’ve grown away from technical jackets and I’m more interested in various layers that would be more suitable for social occasions.

Is there a clothing item you absolutely don’t want to have to wear this week? Any short-sleeved button down with lots of patterns. Too busy. But knowing Chantal, I have a feeling I’m not going to get away with that.

Chantal's Initial Thoughts

What do you like your significant other to wear? Before I begin eviscerating his closet, I would just like to state: I love Ian’s style. One of the first things that caught my eye was an oatmeal-colored knit jumper he wore to a friend’s brunch once and I just thought it looked like the coziest thing in the world. However, I greatly enjoy bright colors and crazy patterns and I would love to see him in more of those.

How would you describe his style? Classic and refined. He knows what he likes, and he sticks to it. I love that he’s willing to invest in high-quality clothing, and how he takes the time to have everything tailored, regardless of whether it’s a suit jacket or an airline pajama top.

What would you change about his style? The only thing I would love to see Ian get more adventurous with is his wardrobe color palette. While I love the way earth tones accentuate his hair and eyes, dramatic hues would make his style pop. Fun patterns and designs would make his aesthetic a bit more dynamic and exciting, too.

What item of clothing would you get rid of if you could? His white v-neck t-shirts. They’re the antithesis of colorful patterns and are meant to be worn as undershirts for a reason. I would burn them all if I could.

What does he wear too much? Ian is a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to his clothing, and once he finds an outfit that works, he sticks with it. His weekend outfit is all-black athleisure, and I’d love for him to punch it up a bit with a retro tracksuit or a flashy snapback.

What doesn't he wear enough? He doesn’t wear enough statement pieces. I think he’d rock the heck out of one-of-a-kind vintage finds or thrifted treasures. I also love him in short-sleeved button-ups with the sleeves rolled up a few times. I forced him into one once and he said he hated it, but I secretly think he kind of liked it.

Is there anything specific you want to make him try that he normally wouldn’t? Patterned blazers. I’ve collected so many cool men’s jackets over the years from various thrift stores and would love to hand them over to him. But he would never.

Chantal's Thoughts: Ha! I got him into a patterned short-sleeved button-down! I had to compromise with the t-shirt underneath, but I’ll take what I can get. It’s low-key and casual but still way more interesting than a solo white tee. Just looking at these photos gives me butterflies.

Ian’s Thoughts: I’m really conflicted about this outfit, but primarily for very positive reasons. It’s made me realize I need to retire this pair of Gios soon and I really don’t like this particular shirt, but I’m a fan of the open button-down aesthetic.

Would He Wear It Again?: Maybe — but let's try a shirt with a different pattern.

Chantal’s Thoughts: Hm. I think I might have gone a little overboard with this one. Don’t get me wrong, I think he still looks adorable — that pocket square! — but it might be a tad too preppy for me.

Ian’s Thoughts: I love the concept of a fun jacket, however the shoes, pants, and shirts all seem to be competing with the jacket rather than working with it. I could see a pair of summer-y loafers and an off-white linen shirt really making the jacket shine.

Would He Wear It Again?: I would wear a rendition of it! I look forward to trying out a fun blazer at some point next summer.

Chantal’s Thoughts: âI’m very into this look I put together for our hike up Enchanted Rock. It’s only a small step up from his all-black getup, but this Australian track jacket I found at the back of my closet has a retro-sporty vibe I’m really digging on him.

Ian’s Thoughts: Yes. Yes, yes, yes. My typical weekend look is more monotone than this because I don’t have space in my closet for tons of fun jackets — or so I thought. I really like how this top changes the focal point away from athleisure.

Would He Wear It Again?: Um… I was thinking that the jacket could come home with me? Chantal?

Chantal’s Thoughts: âI love this outfit on Ian, and it was superb for our lazy Sunday morning grabbing breakfast tacos at Jo’s Coffee. The shirt is a cheerful shade of pink… and it lets me touch his biceps.

Ian’s Thoughts: I didn’t really pack the ideal footwear for this trip, but I think if you put me in a pair of loafers, I’d like this look a lot more. I don’t own any pink shirts, but I really like how this one fits — so much so that it’s making me consider adding a long-sleeve, loosely fitting one to the ol’ closet.

Would He Wear It Again?: With a couple changes, yes! I really like how the two pastels work together.

Chantal’s Thoughts: This was an excellent getup for grabbing groceries on a cool day in downtown Austin. My goal was to show Ian that when he’s going the athleisure route, he doesn’t have to wear head-to-toe sweats — as proven by the way the embroidery on this Read Receipts sweater I made for him perfectly matches his tailored pants..

Ian’s Thoughts: I guess part of my present enjoyment of athleisure is the idea of getting away from the formality of work and sliding into something comfortable. But this outfit was as comfortable as I could imagine, while adding a little something more to the appearance. My Read Receipts sweatshirt from Chantal is the article of clothing in my wardrobe I’m proudest to own — but that’s a story for a different time.

Would He Wear It Again?: I have to confess to wearing my joggers into the office occasionally — that’s how much I love them. But I guess I can let the khakis sneak into some “me” time, too.

— The Takeaway —

Ian: This process reminded me that wearing statement pieces and wearing my favorite clothes aren’t mutually exclusive — it’s simply about adding something special on top. Chantal has shown me that I can still get away with my beloved, simple white tees if I wear a more interesting shirt unbuttoned over it.

Chantal: Ian’s greatest strength is his outlook that whatever makes me happy makes him happy. Just kidding. But I did learn that he’s willing to go outside his comfort zone and take a few sartorial risks because I asked him too, which is incredibly sacrificial and selfless of him.

— Their Favorite Looks —

Ian: The Olympic track jacket because it takes my weekend outfit up a notch and makes it stand out. I still don’t love short-sleeved button-ups, but I do think I’ll be in the market for some brighter long sleeve shirts! So that’s something.

Chantal: Day 4. Ian looks extremely handsome in that outfit, and there’s something that feels really sustainable about it. I could see him coming around to short-sleeved button-downs like this one because it was comfortable, not too flashy, and made me swoon.